Cook County Judicial Candidates Receive Alliance Ratings

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The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening, comprising 13 member organizations, has completed its review of candidates seeking judicial vacancies in the 2026 Cook County Democratic Primary. The Alliance has released its ratings for subcircuit candidates, providing voters with information to make informed choices.

Why it matters

Judicial elections are crucial for ensuring a fair and impartial justice system. The Alliance's ratings help voters identify qualified candidates who will uphold the integrity of the courts. This is especially important in Cook County, where many subcircuit judicial races are uncontested, making the primary election the de facto general election.

The details

The Alliance reviewed the credentials of candidates seeking judicial vacancies in the 2026 Cook County Democratic Primary. Their ratings, using a standardized system, are displayed in grids for each subcircuit. Some subcircuits have multiple vacancies, while others have only uncontested races. Voters can use the Alliance's ratings to assess the qualifications of the candidates on their ballots.

• The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening completed its review of candidates in February 2026.
• The 2026 Cook County Democratic Primary election will be held in the spring.

What’s next

Voters in Cook County will have the opportunity to review the Alliance's ratings and make informed choices in the 2026 Democratic Primary election for subcircuit judicial vacancies.